it comes

red wolf roams free

through the valley and the den
past the foggy yard of meadow
into twilight fog of dusk
i climb by trudge
to the mountains' top i go

the air is brisk with threat of snow
into the blue yawning of night it comes
distant starry lights

i'm cold

though i walk through this valley dark
i try to fear no evil
yet it comes, this cold
not from the geologic folds wrapped in rock
or trees' roots through their cracks
that lead to frozen holes beneath
where evil creatures wait in red and black
my soul to take

i'm cold because humanity sleeps
while the red wolf prowls unrestrained free
seeking human flesh and bone
in the valleys far below 
this spinning earth 
shadowed in its black

cold because it sleeps and will not wake
prevent its soul to take